Multiculturalism, Overheard Style

Woman upon seeing a Mariachi band walk by: Why do they have tambourines on their legs?

— Manhattan

Black kid: Miss, buy some candy to support my school’s basketball team.
Indian woman: No thank you.
Black kid: Man, you people don’t buy nothing. But you sure speak good English.

–40th St. & Lex.

Old lady (looking directly at Hispanic woman and her baby): They don’t speak English and they don’t wanna learn. They just want pay from America. They hate our guts.
[to baby]: Give your Mommy a kiss!

–B6 Bus, Brooklyn

Young man in Vancouver: “It’s so hard to meet anyone here who is Jewish!”

Black Girl: Yeah, it’s like some Irish guy waving a British flag around.
Spanish Girl: Why you gotta be saying that? How do you know half my family ain’t Irish?
Black Guy: You want politics, you want diversity? L.E.S., baby, L.E.S., is where it’s at!

–Karma, 1st Ave.

Overheard by: Tibbie X

Artist: Where are you from?
Tourist: Israel.
Artist: Shalom.

–SoHo

Hobo: Excuse me peoples, but can I get a dime or quarter?
College Student: Sorry, I can’t help you sir.
Hobo: Thanks a lot, whitey!

–161st Street, The Bronx

Overheard by: Peter Whalen

Tourist: People are so nice here. I just love this city. Do you like living here?
New Yorker: It’s the best place in the world.
Tourist: Oh, it’s great. And so diverse!
New Yorker: Yes, it is.
Tourist: So many black people!
New Yorker: Um…yes.
Tourist: Black people and Asians!
New Yorker: Mm-hmm.

–F Train

Urban woman: Those little Chinese people never even say “Excuse me”! They’re so fucking goddamn rude!

–D Train

Dominican girl #1: Yo, when you go to the Dominican republic, everyone is mad nice to you because they think you are rich and can help them out. Everyone there thinks people in the US are all rich.
Dominican girl #2: Yeah, but they don't know we got poor people here, too.
Dominican girl #1: Word, they think the whole country's rich, like Ireland.

–Vanessa's Dumplings, 14th St